gdp's Comments

Mississippi Atheists : Florida Atheists Challenge Church-State Violation by Sheriff

Sun, 2 Jan 2011 15:13:33 +0000

I'm not convinced that donating sports equipment to area churches can be argued as the state establishing a religion, if that is the Constitutional case that is being made. Perhaps it could be better seen as an non-productive use of tax payers money which, even if we accept the premise that inmates shouldn't have the equipment (which I don't), should still be used for the community in general (who paid for the equipment) and not provided free of charge for private use by non-profit groups who would, presumably, limit access to the equipment by way of sectarian imposition. That said, if city donations are otherwise made to private non-profits that are non-religious, then the city cannot discriminate against religious non-profits, in my view, as long as the donation isn't used to support the establishment of the religion. My suggestion: I would have a weekly basketball game at whatever church by the atheists of Florida and see if they are denied playing time on church grounds...then see how that plays out. ;0)

Mississippi Atheists : Coverage of the FFRF Sign in the Mississippi Media

Thu, 23 Dec 2010 00:37:54 +0000

;0)

Mississippi Atheists : Coverage of the FFRF Sign in the Mississippi Media

Thu, 23 Dec 2010 00:37:43 +0000

Given that focus, vjack, it should also be noted that the Nativity is a Bethlehem based invasion.

Mississippi Atheists : FFRF Sign Coming to Mississippi Capitol on Monday

Mon, 20 Dec 2010 03:37:43 +0000

My personal thanks to vjack, Patrick, Dianne, Amanda and all of the Mississippi atheists, agnostics, secular humanists and other non-religious citizens for helping make this happen. I am very proud of the values enshrined in our US Constitution and hope that many folks of all world views and traditions see just how important these proactive efforts are to our human liberty. Steve Schlicht Biloxi MS

Mississippi Atheists : Time to Revaluate This Blog

Sun, 8 Aug 2010 03:06:32 +0000

I am fully interested in site upkeep, by the way. Send me an email on particulars and I'll be open to the task.

Mississippi Atheists : Time to Revaluate This Blog

Sat, 7 Aug 2010 22:35:22 +0000

Well, I know I've recently appreciated (via personal email) your time, effort and obvious financial expenditure in providing this outlet for Mississippi Atheists, vjack. I have often noted that the more heated "progressive"/"liberal" political topics have always garnered more comments and attention from the interested atheists here than anything else. The humanitarian events have generated a lot less insight, suggestions, participation and input. That said, Atheist Revolution seems more popular/populated, so if you want to s-can this one out of a need to refine the effort of promoting non-belief and free thought and save a dollar, I certainly don't have a problem with that. If it helps, the Great Southern Humanist Society has an astounding 45-50 "members" who've signed up, received personal messages, email updates, calendar of new events, RSVP alerts, etc....yet only a handful actually participate in message board discussions, log in or even expend the energy to show up at events that our small family of five frequently initiate and actively participate in. You make the call, vjack and we'll keep doing what we do here in the south, my friend. Steve Schlicht and Family Biloxi MS

Mississippi Atheists : Meet Pastor Steve Gaines

Fri, 9 Jul 2010 22:34:09 +0000

"If I were not an atheist, I would believe in a God who would choose to save people on the basis of the totality of their lives and not the pattern of their words. I think he would prefer an honest and righteous atheist to a TV preacher whose every word is God, God, God, and whose every deed is foul, foul, foul." ~ Isaac Asimov

Mississippi Atheists : Gov. Barbour Failed Mississippi in Preparing for Oil Spill

Fri, 2 Jul 2010 02:37:04 +0000

Yes.

Mississippi Atheists : Christian Bigots Vandalize North Carolina Billboard

Fri, 2 Jul 2010 02:36:13 +0000

So "UNDER" is bigger than "god"? There's no need to fear... ;0)

Mississippi Atheists : BP Oil Spill; Biloxi MS

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 12:42:30 +0000

Thanks vjack, thanks Snowbrush. The booms are up in Biloxi and our top political leadership are now all running around in wide eyed righteous indignation that little to nothing was prepared in advance for this event. However you look at it, none can avoid the obvious fact that they **are** the very people who were elected to ensure the preparations were ready in advance. It is both ironic and telling that the "Day of Prayer" proclaimed by Governor Haley Barbour upon the people of Mississippi is the very day the oil arrives on our shores. Documenting these events is always very important and so is sharing these experiences with as many others as possible. Y'all take care and we'll post more as soon as we find a bit more time. Steve Schlicht Biloxi MS

Mississippi Atheists : Louisiana State Senators Call for Prayer to Stop Gulf Oil Spill

Sun, 27 Jun 2010 02:37:23 +0000

I firmly disagree that the public outreach and refutation of religious claims is "hopeless" as a method to reason with anyone. My view is that there are those who simply have not been subject to all of the information, consideration and rational arguments that equate Christianity with all of the other mythologies. The more atheists, agnostics, freethinkers and non-religious secular humanists become vocal in all public forums in civil and polite terms, the better chance there is that some will begin to step out from under the umbrella of childhood indoctrination and look into it themselves...without pastoral guidance providing coercive apologetics. Call me an idealistic optimist, but the past several years shows us that the more people speak up by rejection superstition and religion, the more confident many others become. Steve Schlicht Biloxi MS

Mississippi Atheists : Louisiana State Senators Call for Prayer to Stop Gulf Oil Spill

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 22:15:22 +0000

One or two just might actually. Otherwise...we're just talking to ourselves. ;0)

Mississippi Atheists : Louisiana State Senators Call for Prayer to Stop Gulf Oil Spill

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 21:13:55 +0000

They will simply opine that the answer was "no" and the negative result, as it remains a part of God's immutable plan...is still ultimately moral and absolutely good, even though we and animal life suffer. It is the foundation of the theological mind snare.

Mississippi Atheists : Louisiana State Senators Call for Prayer to Stop Gulf Oil Spill

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 21:10:20 +0000

I've been offering my views of this rather vain and primitive superstition resorted to by purported magic authoritative shaman (aka politicians) over at the Sun Herald for days. The editors seem persistent in covering stories of folks claiming that praying to an interventionist Sky Deity will "work" to stop the oil if enough of us do it in great numbers at the beach (says so in the Bible after all). My honest inquiry has been, if prayer works and people have been praying for special benefit and protection every weekend (and sometimes Wednesday - Woden's Day) even since before the disaster, how come we find ourselves here in the first place, how come each attempt to stop it has to date failed miserably? Naturally, if President Obama offers sermons and prayers then he is obviously fruitlessly pandering and not doing his job. http://www.sunherald.com/2010/06/16/2265194/beyon...

Mississippi Atheists : BP Oil Spill Biloxi MS: Make No Mistake, Disaster in the Gulf...It Begins

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 21:03:14 +0000

June 20, 2010 0530 - 0700 hours (see photo album) Our crane friend was still at his fishing hole sharing the minnows with other sea birds at Edgewater Dr. Oddly enough, many black crows were also present on the beach. We noted that a berm has been dozed up at the shoreline approximately two foot high and three foot wide all along the Biloxi coast line in our assigned area. Today seemed to be the day of jellyfish and crabs. No sea turtles, plenty of garbage in the form of plastic bags, bottles and more rubber gloves (even one shirt, a shoe and a cell phone case). We counted one foot long ray, 12 jellyfish, 31 crabs, 11 minnows and 2 fish along our one mile stretch from Debuys Rd. to Edgewater Dr. It appears that the sand beach is in constant flux due to dozers and other beach equipment. The water was still and at low tide. The morning sky was beautiful.

Mississippi Atheists : BP Oil Spill Biloxi MS: Make No Mistake, Disaster in the Gulf...It Begins

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 21:01:34 +0000

We fully understand, Jim, and all of our best regards to you, your wife and Mr. Solangi. The impression we had was that collection of these dead turtles would be necessary for determining the cause of death. Even today (June 20) we found the decomposing remains of a dead sea turtle we discovered back on June 12 (see photo log). http://www.meetup.com/Hearts-of-the-south/ That said, we also contacted other groups along with the Biloxi Police Department animal control (though Harrison County SO has jurisdiction) and none seemed interested in collecting these large bodies which were left to decompose over many days in the hot sun amidst the flies.

Mississippi Atheists : BP Oil Spill MS Gulf Coast Volunteer Effort 2010

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 14:05:05 +0000

June 10, 2010 There were an additional 15 or so dead fish added to the shore , probably from the shrimp boats which we could see lining the horizon. We were again visited by, and/or we visited, the Sandhill Crane who apparently has found a sweet spot for fishing. This time Connor and I cleaned up the beach while Terresa documented the information for this project. All in all a great morning and new photos are up in the album.

Mississippi Atheists : Bringing Atheist Bus Ads to Mississippi

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 00:56:39 +0000

Hey...uh...yeah...I knew that.

Mississippi Atheists : Bringing Atheist Bus Ads to Mississippi

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 00:55:45 +0000

I'll pass that info onto my friend, John. He lives in Jackson and is a bit interested in this project as well.

Mississippi Atheists : Christian Proselytizing at the Gym

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 00:51:41 +0000

I really like you Jenni...you scare me. ;0)